Week 5

Quiz 5 Context:

A 79-year-old woman is brought to the emergency room with a complaint of left arm weakness. Her family reports they noted the patient had difficulty moving her arm this morning when the patient awoke. Additionally they report the patient has had some confusion.

The patients medical history is significant for hypertension and hyperlipidemia.

The physical exam confirms hypertension, with blood pressure 150/76 mmHg. The patient has demonstrable hemiparesis and sensory disturbance of the left arm. The cardiac exam is abnormal. An EKG is obtained.

This EKG reveals an irregularly-irregular ventricular rhythm and absent P- waves, consistent with atrial fibrillation.
You have correctly identified this weekâ€™s Image of the Week. Now test your knowledge of other aspects of atrial fibrillation. Do you knowâ€¦
â€¦the prevalence rate of atrial fibrillation in patients with a new thromboembolic stroke?
â€¦the potential impact on cardiac output that can be seen with atrial fibrillation?
â€¦the three intravenous agents approved in the United States for the pharmacological cardioversion of atrial fibrillation?
The answers to these questions and a concise review of the pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment of atrial fibrillation can be found within the Atrial Fibrillation chapter of the Cleveland Clinic Foundation Disease Management Project.